Retreading-vulcanizer



PATENT OFFICE.

' cAnLoUsfr. BYEnLEY-,for KANSAS Grrr, Missouri.

v BETREADINGfvULoANIzEia Application ma'iiarch 10,'1919. sum1 No.281,732.

To all vwlw/m. z't may concern:

Be it known that I, CABLoUs T; Brannon-z,

"skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same,reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, ,and to the letters andyfigures of reference marked thereon, which -form a part of thisspecica-A tion.

This invention relates to retreading vulcanizers for pneumatic tires andone ofthe objects thereof is to provide ai vulcanizer having means forretreading a tire carcass.

Tires, not infrequently, remain in good condition except for the naturalwear and tear on the treads, 'it being obvious that by suitably applyinga new tread to the carcass,

- sides and beads of the tire by submitting the tire will be restored toits original condition and itis the purpose of my invention to providemeans whereby the retreading can be expeditiously accomplished vin aninexpensive manner and without injuring the them to the vulcanizingtemperature required to cure the new tread.

Another object of the invention is to pros vire a retreading vulcanizerprovided with atire tread matrix which may be constructed inl sectionsto permit-the same to bjrgadilyr accessible for the introduction andremoval of the tire from the vulcanizer. l

Other objects and advantages 'of the inl vention will be referred tohereinafter, it

being understood that changes in form, proportion and minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention or sacrificing any of its advantages. A

In. the drawings, p Figure I is la view partly in perspective partly insection of a vulcanizer c onstructed.' accordance with my invention, and

Fig. II is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the same.

Referring Y now to the drawings by numerals of reference: 1v designatesa plurality of standards or leglsupon which the vulcanize'r base issuppo The base 2 comprises a cn'cumfer-,specificationofIiettersclPatent. I-avtentedA Oct; 26, 1920.

ential. orJring-shaped member provided at 3 provided with an annulargroove 4 at its upper inner edge, the said groove being overlapped by aplurality of spaced injwardly projectingvsecuring lugs 5. On the inneredge of the member 2 is a plurality of bearing brackets' -6 -spacedequal distances 4apart and receiving the pivoted clampingbolts7-threaded at their upper ends toreceive the clamping nuts 8. Thesebolts are adapted to engage notches or slots 9 in the inner edge of acover member 10 which is provided with 'peripherally disposed lugs 7011, adapted to engage under the lugs 5, as,

will be presently explained.

The outer edge of the cover'10 may rest upon the iioor' of the groove 4while the inner edge is supported by the matrix which receives the tirefor the purpose of retreading it. The matrix is shown as comprising.itsperimeter with an upstanding outer wall two substantiallysemi-tubular sections 12 and lvhaving tongue and groove sections asindicated at l14 and 15 and the inner periphery of the sections havingopenings 15 for admitting the atmospheric air to reach the parts of thetire riot being vulcanized andhaving a reduced oifset portion 12conforming in part to a tire with the retreading portionof thematrixproperly designed to suit any form of tread. Thel portion 16 mayhave any design o n its inner face so that when the tread is applied tothe tire carcass the outer surface thereofwill partake of the form ordesi intended.

By reference to Figs. I and II it will be observed that the matrix isclamped by the members 2 and 10 and that it constitutes the inner wallof a chamber 17 the bottom, side and top of the chamber comprising themembers 2, 3' and 10 respectively. vFor the purpose of making thechamber 17 tight, suitable acking strips 18 and 19 may be pro'- lvidbetween the matrix and the Hoor, and the top of the base or easing. Thechambei` 17 is adapted to be supplied with steam, as at 20-and 21,through the medium of a pipe 22 and in order to determine the amount ofpressure in the chamber 17, I have rovided a pressure gage 23 which iscarrie by the top 10yand whichcommunicates with the chamber/"17 in awell understood manner. In 'order that the pressure of the steam inchamber 17 may be yrelieved if necessary, I

'have provided a pet-cock 24; which may be .manually operate A ,J

is a bail secu-red to the top or cover 10i.

whereby the same may be lifted from the machine when it is desired tohave access to the matrix. A lug 26 is provided on the 'cover 10 so thata suitable tool may be introduced therein to give a partially rotativemovement tothe cover to lock the lugs 1l under the lugs 5 when thevulcanizer is to be put in operation or to move them out of engagementwith the .lugs when itis desired t0 remove the cover 10.` 27 is an airpipe having a nozzle 28 which discharges into an annular expansible airbag 29 which is adapted to bear against the inner face of the tirecarcass30- to press the tread of the tire against the portion'16 of thematrix, and against abutment 29.

Assuming that it is desirable to retread a tire, the carcass is firstrelieved of the old tread and new material is applied in. the placethereof, and thenthe tire is inserted in the matrix with the air bagbearing against the inner face thereof, forcing the tread within thematrix, thus submitting only that part of the tire that is to be re-`treaded to vulcanizing temperature, as will be clearly seen byreference to Fig. II, the matrix bing clamped in place as shown in Figs.I and II.` The valve 3l in the air pipe 27 may be openedrto V,supply airto the air bag 29 to force the tire tread against the inner face of theportion 16 of the matrix so that the soft rubber will be impressed intothe configuration on the inner may be opened up to permit access to behad to the tire which may then be readily removed.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent,`

that a Vulcanizer constructed in accordance with my invention isinexpensive, durable and eiicient and that it is Welladapted to performthe'functjons for which it is intended.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure by Letters-Patent is: I

l. A retreading vulcanizer for-tires comprising a matrix having atread-receiving portion, an air bag in the matrix conforming to theinner shape of the tube to bear against the inner surface of the tirevto force the tread only into engagement with the treadreceiving portionof the matrix, the side walls of the matrix diverging away from the beadand sides of the tire so/that only the tread portion thereof will betreated, and means for'supplying heat to the outer wall of the matrix. vr v 2. Aretreadiifg vulcanizer for tires comprising a steam chamber anda matrix chamber, the walls of the matrix chamber conforming to theshape of the-tread of the tire only, the steam chamber being about theperiphery of the matrix chamber, and means for supplying. steam .to thesteam chamber.

3.' A retreading vulcanizer for tires comprisingan outer closed steamchamber and an inner open matrix chamber, the outer wallf of the matrixchamber constituting the inner wall of the steam chamber and con#forming to the shape of the tread of the tire only, and means forsupplying steam to the steam chamber.

In testimony .whereof I affix my signature.

CARLOUS T. BYERLEY.

